Boomers on Marijuana Legalization
A 1970s Mentality: Why Some Still Resist Pot Legalization
The biggest age group resistant to the legalization of marijuana tends to be older generations, particularly those over 60, who grew up with more conservative views on drug use.
For many baby boomers, smoking marijuana was never about health benefits or responsible use – it was all about getting high. Back then, pot was a ticket to escape, to feel the music deeper, and to laugh harder with friends. It wasn’t something you did for pain relief or anxiety; it was purely recreational and part of a carefree lifestyle.
"Opposing the legalization of pot is like adopting the same closed-minded views their parents had in the 1970s – stuck in the past, holding on to the same rigid mentality."
Today, however, cannabis is known to offer a range of medical benefits – from managing chronic pain and reducing inflammation to alleviating anxiety and improving sleep. This shift in understanding highlights marijuana as more than just a way to get high, yet for many boomers, those memories of youthful indulgence can overshadow its modern advantages.
Legalizing it now feels strange to those who remember it that way. For many boomers, pot will always be about chasing that euphoric high, and it’s hard to shift that mindset toward viewing it as a legitimate medicine or everyday indulgence.
That lingering association makes some resistant to fully embrace legalization, even as the world around them moves on. It’s such a shame that in their golden years, marijuana could offer incredible relief and comfort, yet many resist it.